Does aforeign international studennt have to have everythig set up before coming here in USA?

Student states he has i20 papers and he will wait till he gets here to set up cles and get istance for living. Is that to be done before coming here? And does the people he stays with have to be on some list to get the istance of him living here,. is that to be prearranged. And how student get car and stuff for his going to school? And is his transportation or airfare paid for?