Some immigrants, at least, definitely had a plan. By reading immigration and census documents for genealogical research, I found clear patterns of planned immigration among Polish communities around the Great Lakes. Entry documents would list final destinations for travelers. Many would list a relative, or another individual from the same "home" city/village in Poland, that had previously immigrated. Census records and city directories would confirm that these people would board/live with the hosting relation/friend until they found a job, and established themselves enough to move into their own home. Some, in turn, sponsored/hosted further immigrating people from their home area.

Not the US, but usually immigrants here in Brazil, especially Italians and Portuguese, were recruited by Brazilians employers in Europe, so when they arrived they would be greeted by the employers and journey to the coffee plantations that were the workplace of the majority of them. Those who didn't come with everything already set up had the option to stay at the "Immigrant's Inn" set up in the late 1880s to house them. Today that building is a pretty great museum/memorial.

Source: Brazilian High School textbooks.