Method and apparatus for splicing optical fibers having different mode field diameters

A fiber splicing apparatus of the present invention includes a support structure supporting the first and second optical fibers (112a,112b) such that ends of the fibers are aligned, and a laser emitting a laser beam (142) that impinges upon the ends of the first and second fibers such that the center of the laser beam is offset from the abutting ends of the fibers and impinges upon the first optical fiber a distance from the end of the first optical fiber, where the first optical fiber has a smaller mode field diameter (MFD) that the second fiber.