Employee visa procedure?

Hi, I am confused about if applying for the employee (long-stay) visa requires an in-person appointment.

So I am a Chinese citizen but live in the US now. I recently got my single permit granted and am following instructions onhttps://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/visa-belgium/employees . The curious thing is I don't see biometric data requirements on the webpage, so I emailed the consulate if an in-person interview is necessary. The person replied: No, just mail in the materials.

But I later filled out the visa application form, which mentions I have to provide biometric data. So now I am left wondering if I need to visit the consulate in person or not. I emailed the consulate again but they didn't reply this time. I am also asking because the earliest appointment is a month away. Can someone with experience clarify this for me, please?

Thanks in advance.