i currently on a 1 year B Visa, which expires soon and want to go onto a Retiremnt visa

i was talking to a "bloke in a bar" who reccons you can't go from a B visa to a retirement visa - and i'll have to go to Laos to get a tourist visa first, then i can get a retirement visa......

So my question :

has anyone out there gone from a B visa straight on to a retirement visa with no problem ??

Thanks in advance..............

It is a retirement extension of stay and the requirement is a non immigrant visa entry. If you are here on a non immigrant B visa entry that should be fine. If on an extension of stay for work you would have to end work first and obtain a 7 day extension of stay and do during that time. If nothing else accepted you would exit and obtain a single entry non immigrant O visa and return on that (most consulates will issue this with proof of age over 50).