Current-independent　metal　transfer　that　allows　the　droplet　to　be　detached　at　any　reasonable　small　diameter　and　low　current　will　provide　the　gas　metal　arc　welding　(GMAW)　process　with　entirely　new　abilities　to　better　meet　possible　needs　from　different　applications.　To　this　end,　a　novel　GMAW　process　involving　the　use　of　a　pulsed　fiber　laser　to　irradiate　droplets　is　proposed　as　a　significant　evolution　from　the　previous　laser-enhanced　GMAW.　The　laser　is　focused　to　a　tiny　spot　to　maximize　the　laser　power　density　and　aimed　at　the　liquid　droplet.　It　is　expected　the　irradiation　of　a　pulsed　laser　with　a　relatively　large　peak　power　would　generate　an　adequate　recoil　force　to　dominate　the　droplet　detachment.　Laser-induced　vaporization　is　first　observed　and　analyzed.　The　metal　transfer　under　continuous　wave　(CW)　and　pulsed　laser　irradiation　are　then　experimentally　observed/analyzed.　The　results　demonstrate　that　the　current-independent　metal　transfer　is　successfully　realized　by　using　the　pulsed　laser,　since　the　selected　laser　allows　much　higher　peak　power　in　pulsed　mode.　The　desirable　one　drop　per　pulse　(ODPP)　transfer　is　obtained.　Therefore,　a　pulsed　fiber　laser　not　only　avoids　waste　of　laser　energy　but　also　achieves　the　desired　controllability　on　the　metal　transfer.　The　verified　current-independent　metal　transfer　ensures　free　design　or　optimization　of　current　waveform　without　constraint　from　the　metal　transfer.　Copyright　©　2016　by　American　Welding　Society　in　both　printed　and　electronic　formats.