• STEP 1 REGISTRATION: Participants must have a histologically proven diagnosis of clear cell or non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Participants with collecting duct carcinoma histology are not eligible. Participants with multifocal or bilateral tumors are eligible

• STEP 1 REGISTRATION: Participants must have primary tumor in place

• STEP 1 REGISTRATION: Participants must have the following scans performed, showing clinical evidence of measurable or non-measurable metastatic disease:

‣ Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest (can be performed without contrast if CT contrast cannot be given)

⁃ CT of abdomen and pelvis with contrast OR magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen and pelvis with or without contrast

∙ Scans must be performed within the following timeframes:

• Treatment naive participants must have scans documenting metastatic disease completed within 90 days prior to study registration

• Previously treated participants must have scans documenting metastatic disease completed within 90 days prior to first dose of systemic treatment

‣ STEP 1 REGISTRATION: Participants with symptomatic metastases may have received palliative radiotherapy or receive palliative radiotherapy after registration

⁃ STEP 1 REGISTRATION: Participants must have no clear contraindications to nephrectomy

⁃ STEP 1 REGISTRATION: Participants must be offered the opportunity to participate in specimen bank. With participant consent, specimens must be collected and submitted via the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) Specimen Tracking System

⁃ STEP 1 REGISTRATION: Participants must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and must sign and give informed consent in accordance with institutional and federal guidelines

⁃ STEP 1 REGISTRATION: As part of the Oncology Patient Enrollment Network (OPEN) registration process the treating institution's identity is provided in order to ensure that the current (within 365 days) date of institutional review board approval for this study has been entered in the system

⁃ STEP 2 REGISTRATION: Participants must have at least one of the following scans performed 12 weeks (+/- 2 weeks) after starting pre-randomization treatment

• CT scan of the chest (can be performed without contrast if CT contrast cannot be given)

• CT of abdomen and pelvis with contrast OR MRI of the abdomen and pelvis with or without contrast Scans must be performed within 28 days prior to randomization. Response should be assessed by comparing with a CT or MRI of the chest, abdomen and pelvis obtained prior to starting pre-randomization treatment. Participants with complete response in all metastatic sites are not eligible to randomize to Step 2

• • STEP 2 REGISTRATION: Participants must have one of the following objective statuses after 12 weeks of pre-randomization treatment

• Stable disease

• Partial response

• The treating investigator believes the patient is deriving clinical benefit from systemic therapy AND have Zubrod performance status 0-1

‣ STEP 2 REGISTRATION: Participants must plan to continue the immune-based therapy received during pre-randomization treatment

⁃ STEP 2 REGISTRATION: Participants must be randomized on or between the 11th and 14th week of protocol-directed pre-randomization treatment therapy

⁃ STEP 2 REGISTRATION: Participants must have received at least one of the minimum amounts of immunotherapy:

• 2 infusions of nivolumab + 1 infusion of ipilimumab

• 2 infusions of pembrolizumab

• 2 infusions of avelumab

‣ STEP 2 REGISTRATION: Participants must have a planned surgery date within 42 days of randomization

⁃ STEP 2 REGISTRATION: Participants must be a surgical candidate as determined by study urologist. The urology consult should be done within 42 days prior to randomization

⁃ STEP 2 REGISTRATION: Participants must have a complete physical examination and medical history within 28 days prior to randomization

⁃ STEP 2 REGISTRATION: Participants must have a Zubrod performance status of 0-1 within 28 days prior to randomization

⁃ STEP 2 REGISTRATION: Total bilirubin =\< institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) (within 28 days prior to randomization)

⁃ STEP 2 REGISTRATION: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =\< 3 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) (within 28 days prior to randomization)

⁃ STEP 2 REGISTRATION: Serum creatinine =\< 1.5 x the institutional upper limit of normal (IULN) OR measured OR calculated creatinine clearance \>= 50 mL/min using the Cockcroft-Gault Formula) (must have been drawn and processed within 28 days prior to randomization)